Physical Therapist Assistant Program Information Packet A.A.S. Degree This Information Packet provides the prospective applicant with information about the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program admission process at Montgomery County Community College and includes: Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Information and Point Score Worksheet 4/16/2018 Any person is eligible to begin coursework at Montgomery County Community College toward qualifying for admission to the PTA Program and A.A.S. degree; however, admission requires that the applicant meet Special Admissions Requirements as published in the College Course Catalog and be able to perform the required PTA Essential Functions. https://www.mc3.edu/degrees-and programs/programs/health/assets/physical-therapistassistant/docs/physical-therapist-assistant-essential-functions.pdf 1
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT ADMISSIONS INFORMATION Montgomery County Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science degree with a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) concentration. Changes in the curriculum and admission requirements for the PTA Program may occur between the time the applicant applies to the College and the time of acceptance into the PTA Program. Applicants must meet the requirements in place for the PTA Program at the time that acceptance into the Program is offered. Pre-Accreditation Status Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Effective October 25, 2017, the Montgomery County Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org). Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation. This decision by CAPTE will allow Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) to admit the first class (charter class) of students to the newly developed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program in the summer 2018 semester. CAPTE's decision regarding the PTA Program initial accreditation will be made at the CAPTE meeting April 26 May 1, 2019. Should CAPTE decide to grant accreditation, graduates in the charter class of 2019 and thereafter will be considered graduates of an accredited program. The graduating charter class of 2019 will be eligible to take the National Physical Therapist Examination (PTA) no earlier than July of 2019. Should the PTA program at MCCC fail to be granted accreditation by CAPTE in the spring of 2019, a contingency plan is in place that would include; Advising students about the existence of PTA CAPTE accredited programs in Pennsylvania; Assisting students as much as feasibly possible in contacting and facilitating communication about the possibilities of transferring to an accredited program; and 2
Advising students regarding alternate career pathways that are supported by the College. Admission The PTA Program offers acceptance up to 20 applicants and selects 4 alternates each summer semester. To be considered for acceptance, all PTA Program applicants must meet the Program s Special Admission Guidelines (College Course Catalog is available online at www.mc3.edu). In addition, the applicant must be able to perform the required PTA Essential Functions. https://www.mc3.edu/degrees-and-programs/programs/health/assets/physical-therapist-assistant/docs/physicaltherapist-assistant-essential-functions.pdf Acceptance to the PTA Program is highly competitive. Admission decisions are made based on a point system and ranking procedure. Points are awarded based on the number of required pre-technical phase courses completed, courses completed at Montgomery County Community College, course grades, area of residency, year of application to the Program, and an autobiographical essay. In addition, the following will be considered but not required: documented therapy aide employment within 5 years of petition; highest college degree earned; and selected current, valid professional licensure / certification held in the year of petition. The total point score for each applicant is ordered from highest to lowest with seats offered to those with the 20 highest total point scores. In the event that there are applicants with the same total point score and one is a veteran, the veteran will receive priority in compliance with PA DOE Act 46 Higher Education Course Scheduling Preference for Veterans Students Act. Applicants seeking admission to the PTA Program are required to submit an electronic Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission. Completed petitions are accepted during the following time frames: Summer Admission Consideration January 22 from 9 a.m. through February 22 at 5 p.m. 2 nd Summer Admission Consideration April 19 from 9 a.m. through April 27 at 5 p.m. All applicants who have filed a completed Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission are required to submit a brief, well written essay that describes what influenced you to apply for a seat in the PTA Program and describe your personal strengths which will allow you to function effectively as a PTA. The essay should be no more than two pages in length, using size 12 font, no greater than single spaced to 1½ space typed and no greater than 1 inch margins. Please include your name on each page. Submit the essay to the PTA Program Director: rcullen@mc3.edu on or before April 27. The essay can be also be uploaded, when completing the on-line Petition. Applicants are strongly advised to meet with the PTA Advisor in the Central or West Campus Student Success Centers before submitting the Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission to verify completion of all Special Admission Requirements. All applicants who have filed a completed Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission April 19 from 9 a.m. through April 27 at 5 p.m. will be notified of the decision (Acceptance/Conditional, Acceptance, Non-Acceptance or Alternate List Pending Acceptance) in early May. 3
The names of those applicants who receive a Non-Acceptance letter are removed from future consideration until the applicant re-submits a Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission for the next admissions cycle. All applicants offered an Acceptance/Conditional, Acceptance letter are required to respond in writing to the offer by a required date specified in the Acceptance Letter. Failure to respond by this date results in a loss of acceptance into the PTA Program during that admission cycle. Requests to defer acceptance are not considered. Accepted applicants who do not accept the offered seat or those who wish to defer admission must re- submit a Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission in subsequent academic years. All applicants who receive an Acceptance/Conditional, Acceptance letter and confirm their acceptance in writing are required to attend a mandatory PTA Program Orientation held by the Director of the PTA Program. This three hour orientation provides information about the PTA Program and its pre-matriculation requirements including physical examination, immunizations, drug screening, criminal record check, etc. At this session, Accepted/Conditionally, Accepted applicants will receive uniform order forms required for the PTA Program. Applicants will also register for summer semester classes. Failure to attend the mandatory PTA Program Orientation may result in the loss of acceptance to the PTA Program. All applicants who receive an Alternate List Pending Acceptance letter and confirm their status in writing are required to attend a mandatory PTA Program Orientation held by the Director of PTA Program in anticipation of a prospective seat becoming available in the Program. This three hour orientation provides information about the PTA Program and its pre-matriculation requirements including physical examination, immunizations, drug screening, criminal record check, etc. At this session, Alternate List Pending Acceptance applicants will receive uniform order forms required for the PTA Program. Failure to attend the mandatory PTA Program Orientation may result in the loss of an anticipated seat in the PTA Program. Alternate List Pending Acceptance students must re-submit a Petition for Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admission in subsequent academic years if a seat is unavailable for the original year of submission. 4
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM COSTS IN ADDITION TO TUITION/FEES All FEES ARE ESTIMATES AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE Textbooks* $1300.00 Uniforms and shoes* $ 200.00 Lab Kit* $100.00 Physical and required immunizations, drug screen, PPD, flu vaccine** $ 500.00 Child Abuse Clearance $ 10.00 PA Criminal Background Check/FBI Clearance $ 40.00 APTA Student Membership National and PA Chapter Dues $ 85.00 Transportation to clinical education centers and enrichment sites varies CPR Certification for the healthcare professional $ 100.00 Liability Insurance $ 38.00 Application for State Certification / Licensure varies PTA National Exam Review Course*** TBD PTA National Physical Therapy Exam $400 * Program Specific only ** Depending upon individual medical insurance coverage *** Optional 5
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADMISSION POINT SCORE WORKSHEET 12/13/20017 Section One Pre-Technical Phase Courses Completed *In Progress Course(s) Taken @ Montgomery County Community College. Points awarded only for course completion at Montgomery County Community College. Course(s) Completed Points awarded only for 1 st successful course attempt at MCCC. No points awarded for courses in-progress, not attempted, withdrew, or repeated Grades(s) Earned Points awarded for the highest grade earned in each course completed successfully. Section Two Substitute A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C BIO 131^ 0.50 2 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 HCP 224 0.25 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 BIO 132^ 0.50 2 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 MAT 106 0.25 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 PHY 115^ 0.25 2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 4 ENG 101 0.25 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ESW 222^ 0.25 2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ESW 224^ 0.25 2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 SPC 120 0.25 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 HCP 120 0.25 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 PSY 206 0.25 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Elective Core Goal 7 0.25 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Sub Total: Total Points Points ( circle only Section Three 6 Points (circle only Section Four Points (circle only Place of Permanent Residence Documented Therapy Aide Employment within 5 Years of Petition Highest Degree Earned In County 5 500 999 Hours 1 Graduate 5 Out of County/In State 2 1000 1499 Hours 2 Bachelor 4 Out of State 0 1500 or more Hours 3 Associates 3 Total Points: Total Points: Total Points: Section Five Section Six Section Seven Current, valid Licensure / Points Year of Application Points (circle only Essay Points Certification the Year of Petition Medical Assistant Certified 1 This Year 0.25 High Score 3 Licensed Massage Therapist 1 Past 1 Year 0.50 Middle Score 2 Certified Personal Trainer through the 1 Past 2 Years 1.00 Low Score 1 ACSM or NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning 2 Past 3 Years 2.00 Specialist through NSCA Athletic Trainer 3 Past 4 Years or More 4.00 Occupational Therapy Assistant 4 Total Points: Total Points: Total Points: *In Progress must be registered Spring 2018 for all remaining pre-technical courses to be completed.at time of petition application. ^ BIO 131, BIO 132, PHY 115, ESW 222, ESW 224 must be completed within 5 years of acceptance to the PTA Program. Selected Pre-Technical Course Substitutes; MAT 106 MAT 131, MAT 140, (MAT 188 & MAT 189 Combined) or MAT 190. PHY 115 (PHY 121 & PHY 122 Combined), (PHY 151 & PHY 152 Combined). SPC 120 SPC 110, SPC 113, or SPC 230.